How to Start Fostering with TAGS: FAQ

Are you considering fostering but don’t know where to start? TAGS volunteers and foster parents are ready to help you set up for your first experience saving a dog’s (or cat’s) life!

How do I know if I qualify to be a foster parent?

Do you love pets? Do you have a house or an apartment with enough space in it? Do you have enough time to walk your foster dog and spend quality time with him or her on a daily basis? If your answers are yes to these questions, then you probably qualify.

Finding a perfect foster match is an important part of the foster program. By getting to know foster families better, we can help to choose the foster dog or cat that best suits the family. Foster animals come from all walks of life, some with history, most without. As is our goal with our adoption process, we want to work with our foster families to ensure that their experience as a foster is one that proves to be rewarding.

Yes! Many people are not able to make time for volunteering in the traditional way, but fostering is a great opportunity for you to help out without having to change your daily routine a whole lot.

What if I already have a dog?

That shouldn’t be a problem. It often even helps to have another dog for your foster dog to socialize with.

What if I have a cat that doesn’t like dogs?

You can either try to slowly allow your cat to get used to the presence of a dog or foster a suitable cat.

Can I foster only cats?

Yes! If you prefer, you can apply to be a foster home for cats. TAGS doesn’t have many, but there is always a need to save some.

How fast will I get a dog?

It depends. Almost daily, we get notifications about dogs that are available to take from pounds, so it could happen as quickly as a couple of days after approval.

Are these dogs vetted/groomed before or after I get them?

We always try our best to have the new dogs checked out by a vet beforehand. However, sometimes there are emergency cases, in which we must place a dog somewhere before he or she gets a veterinary appointment.

How much of the expenses are covered by TAGS?

100% of the expenses are covered by TAGS, including medical care, food and treats, bedding, grooming and training.

You can pick up your share from our dog park. Please ask for directions.

What other duties do I have as a foster parent?

Other than providing a loving foster home and doing some basic training (our training experts can help) with your foster dog, you are required to transport your pet to either the Whitby or Oshawa location of PetSmart for a dog showcase at least once a month. TAGS presents its adoptable pets at PetSmart every weekend so that people can get to know our organization and animals a little better.

There are also other events to which you may be required to bring your foster dog—for example, TV promotions or a puppy room event for university students, if your schedule allows.

Can I rename my foster dog?

Yes. Actually, our foster parents made up a Scrabble-like game to give more creative names to the newcomer dogs. But if you want, you can keep his or her original name.

What if I want to adopt my foster dog?

TAGS has a rule that you cannot adopt your first foster dog. But you can adopt your second (or any subsequent) one.

It’s important to understand that by fostering, you are saving not just the fostered dog’s life but potentially the life of another dog, too, who is still in a shelter waiting for a foster home to become available.

If you have any other questions, please let us know in the comments section!

2 comments

Hi, That’s wonderful that you are interested in fostering. Please complete the foster application form on our website and submit it. One of our volunteers will be in touch with you once it has been received.